Calgary Herald » Michele Jarviehttp://calgaryherald.com
Tue, 31 Mar 2015 22:03:05 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/http://0.gravatar.com/blavatar/e199df80ebf85ab003ef1996efd8e10b?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.png » Michele Jarviehttp://calgaryherald.com
Calgary's tallest building is now the subject of a new book. Here's an excerpthttp://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/book-excerpt-from-steel-resolve-the-building-of-the-bow
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/book-excerpt-from-steel-resolve-the-building-of-the-bow#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 22:42:12 +0000http://calgaryherald.com/?p=233515]]>The building towers over downtown Calgary, with its gaze extending towards the Rocky Mountains to the west and far over the prairies to the east — making a statement about the vast territory its tenants cover.

Officially seven years in the making, THE BOW is a symbol of the considerable impact and influence of not only its tenants (Encana Corp. and Cenovus Energy), but of the entire petroleum industry in Alberta. Long the economic driver for this province, oil and gas continue to dominate Alberta’s fortunes, even with periodic downturns.

But moving beyond the energy industry, THE BOW building has also been pegged as the great white hope of the East Village and symbol of change in the area.

City officials and developers note the $1.4-billion tower and its thousands of workers are kick-starting more development in the once-neglected east side.

At the time of planning, “no corporate building had been constructed east of Centre Street,” said Ald. Druh Farrell at the tower’s opening ceremony. “The site selected by Encana opened the gateway of east Calgary and also made the work you see in East Village possible. THE BOW ignited a discussion about architecture. . . Along with the changes to our skyline, it’s raised our expectations for all future downtown structures.”

THE BOW, the tallest building in the photo, dramatically changed the skyline of Calgary. Stuart Gradon, Calgary Herald.

Bruce Graham, now the outgoing president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development, sees THE BOW as having national influence. “In the reflection of THE BOW’s gleaming steel and glass, we see Canada’s potential to be an energy superpower and we see Calgary’s growing position as a global business centre and economic leader.”

Lauded by architects and artists, municipal officials, and even ordinary citizens, THE BOW has cemented its place in Calgary. But where did this glass and steel wonder come from? Who had the lofty dream or vision in the first place? And how did it come to fruition?

The story of THE BOW begins with former Encana CEO Gwyn Morgan and a leadership team presiding over 3,000-plus employees who were scattered across five buildings in the city. (At the time, Encana and Cenovus were still operating as one under company under the Encana name.) Meetings that crossed divisions had to be carefully planned and there was a lack of cohesiveness that comes with integrating staff.

“It wasn’t optimal for communications and the teamwork of the company,” Morgan recalls. By the mid-2000s, senior executives felt the time was right to unite everyone under one roof.

As no existing office space was large enough to hold them all, the company went looking for a piece of land on which to build. After much analysis and debate, Encana chose a site the City was promoting as a way to stimulate the revitalization of East Village.

“That site was the most clear cut in terms of being able to assemble,” said Craig Reardon, who until recently was vice-president of administration for Encana and was also a key member of the group that found the site and recommended it to Morgan and other senior executives.
“It was the simplest to acquire and the least expensive to acquire by quite a bit,” Reardon said. “And it was also something we had been talking to the City about, in terms of its push to get something major going east of Centre Street.”

. . . Although the idea of a new office tower had been in the works for years, the official plans were unveiled in 2006. And it was no mere building, the plans revealed. The ambitious project would transform Calgary’s downtown, redefine the city’s skyline and not least of all, alleviate the squeeze on office space. Officials predicted more than one million square feet would be freed up once Encana moved out of existing offices.

At 247 metres and 59 storeys tall, it was to be the tallest office tower in Western Canada, and the second-largest development in Canada after Toronto’s First Canadian Place.

. . . Eventually, Encana — which had never intended to be a property developer and only wanted to kick-start the project — sold THE BOW and its assets to a subsidiary of H&R Real Estate Investment Trust. As part of the transaction, Encana signed a 25-year tenant lease agreement with H&R REIT for 100 per cent of the office tower at an initial rental rate of approximately $36 per square foot and received about $70 million, which largely represented Encana’s investment to date in the project. That helped Encana’s bottom line and the company announced record profits of $6.5 billion in February 2007.

One month later, the tower’s design was reduced by one storey. Encana felt it could tighten up the space needed, also helping to alleviate concerns over potential shading of the riverbank. Under city policy, no buildings are allowed to cast shadows on the river, Stephen Avenue Walk and civic parks.

. . . Perhaps the most significant event in the building of THE BOW was the breakup of the company it was being built for. In May 2008, Encana announced a plan to split the country’s largest energy firm into two corporations, both which would still rank among the six largest in the oilpatch. Encana Corp. would focus on natural gas, while the firm that was later named Cenovus Energy would be a fully integrated oil company.

A global economic downturn delayed that plan for a year and a half. The accompanying credit crunch also affected THE BOW and its owners, H&R Real Estate Investment Trust. . . However, things started to turn around by fall 2009 and shareholders approved the company’s split. But it wasn’t a move made just on paper. Creating two distinct and separate companies necessitated changes to the building’s design and security. Cenovus would now be housed on floors three to 28 and Encana on 29 to 55.

. . . The roller-coaster ride of 2008-’09 came to an end by the start of 2011. Also in 2011, THE BOW was honoured with an Alberta Steel Design Award of Excellence, a competition created to recognize innovation in steel design in the province. . . (And), creative use of art and light, along with the building’s innovative design, landed THE BOW on the list of the world’s most spectacular corporate buildings in 2013.

. . . (On opening day) Mayor Naheed Nenshi praised the tower as a symbol of the city’s emergence as a place of power. “I want Calgarians to see a point in time. I want them to see . . . a city with its face turned firmly towards the future and I think this building is a beautiful symbol of that.”

Calgarians seem to agree. On any given day, you’ll see people with cameras capturing sunlight glinting off the tower; other people at the base of the tower bend backwards to peer all the way to the top; and, groups of children run in and out of the sculpture in front of the building.

. . . Former mayor Dave Bronconnier, who was a key player in discussions between the City and Encana’s team, added that THE BOW represented a “coming together, between the city, the province, the building owner, the building tenants, (and) many, many hands to make such a spectacular project that clearly has changed the skyline of Calgary for the better. And, it really is a grand beauty — 236 metres of absolute gorgeousness – drop-dead beautiful – that will stand the test of time.”

“It’s what I’ve always said about Calgary — put on your seatbelt and wait, because Calgary is a city that continues to grow,” Bronconnier said. “It really speaks to the maturity of Calgary. You’re seeing it in this building.”

* * *

To read the full story of THE BOW, you can check out a new ebook – Steel Resolve: The Building of THE BOW, by the Calgary Herald. The book tells the story of how the tallest office tower in Western Canada moved from concept to completion, becoming an architectural marvel and new icon of Calgary. Included in its pages are behind-the-scene stories, facts, figures and more than 250 photos, almost 200 of which were taken by Calgarians from all walks of life.

All proceeds from the book are being generously donated by Encana, Cenovus, Matthews Development and H & R REIT to the Calgary Herald Christmas Fund, which raises money for local non-profit agencies every year.

A new eBook, Steel Resolve, tells the story of how THE BOW tower moved from concept to completion.

* * *

THE BOW: By the Numbers

There is no shortage of amazing facts, figures and data about THE BOW. Here is a look at THE BOW, by the numbers:

58: Number of storeys in THE BOW, including 53 office floors, four mechanical floors and retail space.

236: The height of the building in metres; that’s 774 feet.

158,000: The size of the building in square metres; in square feet, that would be 1.7 million.

48,000: Tonnes of steel used in the project, which became the largest steel project ever built in Canada.

3: The building is home to three sky gardens, which provide an indoor park environment, complete with vegetation, trees, natural light areas and comfortable seating.

1.4 billion: The cost, in dollars, of the building.

3rd: The concrete pour for the foundation became the world’s third largest concrete pour. It involved 500 people and took three days.

4th: Emporis, a global provider of building data, named it the world’s fourth most spectacular corporate head office.

82,500: The number of square metres of glass panels used in THE BOW; that’s almost 900,000 square feet.

22: The number of trades involved in constructing the building; more than 100 sub-trades were also involved.

1,000,000: The number of conduit runs for electricity.

2: The number of city blocks the building and area covers.

20,000: Number of fire alarm devices in the building.

80: Kilometres of sprinkler pipe installed.

30,000: Number of sprinkler heads in the building, along with 560 sprinkler hose valves.

1,390: The underground parking structure is six levels and holds 1,390 vehicles.

420: The number of bicycles that can be parked into the underground parking structure.

Here in the heart of the Canadian west, tourists interested in ranching and rodeoing can travel back in time along the Cowboy Trail. But if you’re interested in the other major development in Alberta’s history — oil — where do you go to learn more?

Well, for starters you’d want to read up on Turner Valley and the Dingman No. 1 well which hit payday on May 14, 1914, kick-starting the modern era of oil and gas exploration in Alberta. It also sparked a mini boom of investors flocking to the area, all looking to strike it rich.

There was a second strike in the area in 1924 that produced both oil and gas. Oil was the valuable commodity so the gas was used to heat local homes and the rest was burned off. The skies were lit day and night from the glow of the flares.

The Turner Valley oilfield was Western Canada’s first commercial petroleum producer and for more than 10 years produced 200 million cubic feet of gas daily, enough to supply the daily needs of New York City, according to the Town of Turner Valley.

A gas plant was built in the 1930s and operated until 1985. After it closed, it became a National Historic Site housing an extensive collection of early development structures: Canada’s first high pressure absorption gas extraction plant, first sour gas scrubbing plant, and first propane plant.

The oilfield’s third boom came on June 16, 1936, when crude oil was discovered.

At one time you could visit the Turner Valley Gas Plant but it is presently closed to the public as the government determines the future of the site.

********

Waterton

From here you can choose to go further south or head north where many of the province’s major discoveries lay.

If you head south, go all the way down toward the border. There, companies are harnessing two different kinds of energy.

Green energy providers are taking advantage of the gales that blast through the southern part of the province. From Magrath to Waterton, there are 34 wind energy projects in Alberta. You can see several of the large turbines along Hwy 3 into B.C.

Waterton is also home to abundant gas. The first well was drilled here in 1957, and since then the Waterton Complex has drilled more than 340 wells with a capacity to produce enough natural gas to meet the average annual residential needs of over 650,000 households.

The Shell Canada plant, one of the largest in Alberta, is 30 kilometres southwest of Pincher Creek. It is not open to the public.

****************

Heritage Park

Next, you want to swing into Calgary with a stop at Heritage Park. You just saw the real location in Turner Valley but the park’s historical centre puts it into perspective with a replica of the Dingman No. 1 well. It was built in 1965 using hardware salvaged from an oil derrick in B.C. Like the original, it uses cable tool drilling as opposed to rotary drilling, which was a less expensive form used before the 1930s.

*****

Brazeau Collieries National Historic Site and Nordegg Heritage Centre

David Thompson was one of the first to explore what is now Rocky Mountain House in the early 1800s and his surveying work opened the area to trading. One hundred years later, another surveyor, Martin Nordegg, discovered coal seams in the same mountains.

The Brazeau Collieries Minesite produced more than 10 million tons of coal between 1911 and 1955, when the mine was abandoned. It was designated an Alberta Historic Site in 1993 and a National Historic Site in 2002.

The Nordegg mine site is open from May long weekend to mid-September. At one time you could wander the largely intact site on your own, but vandalism and liability risks mean you must now go with a guide. There is a lot to see, from the shuttered entrance shaft, to the miner’s check-in shack and showering facilities to the coal handling building.

Guided two-hour tours run May long weekend to September long weekend. In addition, the Nordegg Museum in the Heritage Centre houses many artifacts relating to coal mining at the Brazeau Collieries and community life during the heyday of Nordegg.

If you’re really interested in mining, there are other sites in Alberta including Leitch Collieries in the Crowsnest Pass, and the Atlas mine in the Drumheller Valley, one of the most productive coal fields in Western Canada in the early 20th century.

*****

Leduc

While southern Alberta lays claim to the first oil boom, the north-central part of the province is where the modern-day oil and gas industry got its start. The Leduc #1 Energy Discovery Centre near Devon is dedicated to telling the story of what is deemed one of the most important economic discoveries in Canada’s history. On Feb. 13, 1947, a huge oil strike was made at on a farm just southwest of Edmonton. The story of those early energy pioneers is told through 23,000 square feet of scale models, fossils, working rigs, antique equipment, machinery, murals, archives and a theatre. It is a national historic site.

The site is open year-round and is located southwest of Edmonton at the junction of Hwys 19 and 60.

The Leduc #1 Energy Discovery Centre is open Monday to Friday April through October. This sprawling complex includes rig displays, a hand-on learning lab, displays of the original crew of Leduc #1, and the world’s largest drill bit in which you’ll journey 1,750 metres to reach the Devonian Reef. The Centre is also home to the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame which honours over 124 pioneers and innovators.

*******

Fort McMurray

The far north is where the tour wraps up, and is the site of the province’s most recent forays into oil exploration.

The Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray is in the heart of the world’s biggest single oil deposit — the Athabasca oilsands. A number of energy companies are mining the sands here and it has become a hot issue with celebrities protesting the continued development. The centre’s purpose is to increase public awareness and knowledge about the oilsands and does so through rotating exhibits, extraction demonstrations, films, and a family-friendly discovery lab. The centre, which opened in 1985 and was redeveloped in 2002, was created through donations from private companies, individuals, and funding from the Alberta government.

The centre is open year-round with reduced hours in fall and winter.

If you have money and little time, you can fly direct with Calgary-based Classic Canadian Tours, which has added an oilsands tour to its stable of polar-bear safari and beluga whale tours. The $735 one-day trip combines a visit to the Discovery Centre with a tour of Suncor Energy’s oilsands site.

There are also local helicopter outfits that do flyovers, including Wood Buffalo Helicopters, which shuttled around Hollywood director James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar) in 2010 after he was invited to view Syncrude’s reclamation area after criticizing the oilsands as a black eye on Canada’s environmental record.

]]>http://calgaryherald.com/business/on-the-trail-of-albertas-energy-resources/feed0Calgary Herald/Files
A line of turbines catch the breeze at the Canadian Hydro wind farm on Cowley Ridge east of Crowsnest Pass.mjarvieFeeling nostalgic for Buckshot and the Stampede of my youthhttp://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/feeling-nostalgic-for-buckshot-and-the-stampede-of-my-youth
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/feeling-nostalgic-for-buckshot-and-the-stampede-of-my-youth#commentsWed, 10 Jul 2013 22:51:24 +0000http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/?p=65846]]>The heat, the crowds and the smells, especially cotton candy and cow poop, bring back loads of memories from my youth, oh so long ago. But those are the only similarities between the Stampede of the late 1960s and the 2013 edition.

Kids’ day at the fair Wednesday brought out families — legions of them — to test their mettle on the rides, to try to win yet another stuffy, and eat candy apples so sweet they’re cringe-inducing.

While no one was complaining about the lack of rain, the soaring temperatures sent parents of babies and toddlers into the BMO Centre for some respite.

But the simple arts and crafts of my generation have been replaced by jungle gyms and bouncy castles. I lamented the loss of the charcoal artist, the commemorative Stampede coin machine where you could make your own medallion and, my very favourite, the spin art booth. Every year, the lineups snaked around the Big Four as kids waited to squirt various colours of paint onto a canvas and watch as the operator flipped a switch and spun your mess into a wonderful creation that became a treasured Stampede souvenir.

But perhaps that’s just age-induced nostalgia on my part as parents and kids were thrilled with the offerings this year.

“A lot of the rides and games are the same but it’s always a little different in the BMO. And they’ve never had this stuff before,” said new mom Courtneay Grimes, 22, gesturing to the bouncy houses and large climbing gym. “It’s great to be able to come inside and have things to do instead of baking out in the hot sun.”

Buckaroos in the BMO Centre Hall A has the aforementioned climbing apparatus, plasma cars, face painting, Play-Doh and stacking games. It also has a stage where kids can get up and sing along, which was entertaining Grimes’ four-month-old baby Colbie.

Older kids in the area were just taking a break from the madness on the midway. Nylagh Mullaghan was checking out the BMO booths with her aunt Breige Mullaghan, who’s visiting from Ireland, after a busy morning on the rides. She’d already tried the roller-coaster, the slides, The Swing and checked out the SuperDogs and some shows.

At 10, she’s not old enough to have watched Buckshot and Benny in their prime cast a spell on a crowd of youngsters but she thinks the SuperDogs are up to the challenge.

“They were great, really funny. We’ve gone twice now.”

It seems shows, and not rides, are the big drawing card for many kids. Brynn Kemble, 10, and her brother Gavin, 8, had only hit one ride by 1 p.m. Wednesday.

“We have Calaway (Park) passes so we thought we’d focus on the stuff we can’t do there,” said their stepmom Lindsay Kemble.

The siblings had taken in the Indian Village and the agriculture centre where they got their passports stamped, had gotten (temporary) tattoos and even taken part in a hypnotist’s show.

“Except Gavin didn’t stay up there for very long,” said Brynn, who seemed disappointed her little brother wasn’t under a spell.

Even without the spin art machine, the consensus was there’s loads for kids to do. In this TV-centric age, much of the Stampede entertainment is tied to television shows and characters. On the Coca-Cola Kids’ stage this week are The Heebee-jeebees, Splash ‘n Boots, Thomas & Friends, My Little Pony and Barney.

The BMO Kids’ zone in Jaycee Park has free, interactive activities and kids can meet more TV characters such as Dora and Diego and Bob the Builder, get their faces painted, or watch displays of professional freestyle soccer.

Surprisingly, two of the most popular activities are a tribute to the roots of the Stampede — rodeo and agriculture.

The Kids’ Chuck Challenge, which runs four times a day on the steps in front of the Saddledome, puts children in the drivers seat of mini wagons.

And the Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull lets children, ages four to 12 test their skills in a pint-sized, pedal-powered John Deere Tractor Pull. That runs three times daily at the Agrium Ag-tivity in the City tent, south of the Agriculture Building.

Stampede 2013 isn’t the quaint fair of the ’60s, but it’s creating memories for an entirely new generation.

mjarvie@calgaryherald.com

Courtneay Grimes, 22, and four-month-old Colbie at the baby’s first Stampede.

In keeping with the western theme, meat is showing up on a bun, inside pies, and even as bacon in corndogs. If that’s not enough cholesterol, you can load up on deep-fried just about anything: chips on a stick, chocolate-covered bacon, pickles, Oreos, bubble gum. Or you could skip the “food” altogether and go straight to deep-fried cubes of pure, unadultered butter.

That said, there are some healthy options on the grounds if you’re willing to search them out. Herald readers learned about the run on salads at Hidden Valley Ranch‘s booth from Mario Toneguzzi’s story on July 7. I inhaled one yesterday before the chuckwagon races and it was well worth the extraordinary price of $1, especially since you get to keep the plastic container.

Since then, I’ve discovered a few more food choices to keep me energized, instead of seeking out a nap on the grass in the shade of the Coke stage. That said, there’s nothing wrong with a brew and a burger mid afternoon. It just makes it hard to type.

Some of the tempting choices include the Saltspring noodle booth where you can choose between Teriyaki chicken, Malaysian peanut, Pad Thai or Soy Sesame. Joey’s Urban has great little fish tacos for $5, which is healthy as long as you don’t add a Caesar from the adjoining Mott’s House beer gardens. The giant turkey leg booth also offers veggies and dip and the chocolate covered-everything booth has fruit on a stick. You could probably ask for it without chocolate but, really, why? And let’s not forget one of the best Stampede foods ever: hot buttered corn on the cob.

With today’s temperatures forecast to hit 26 C, it might be the day to wash it all down with some fresh lemonade. Although I suspect many fairgoers will have a different beverage of choice in hand today.

]]>http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/seeking-out-non-nap-inducing-foods-at-stampede/feed0lemonademjarvieLotteries leave me feeling lucky at the Stampedehttp://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/lotteries-leave-me-feeling-lucky-at-the-stampede
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/lotteries-leave-me-feeling-lucky-at-the-stampede#commentsTue, 09 Jul 2013 16:26:05 +0000http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/?p=65699]]>A hot, new Camaro would be swell and a massive RV would also be welcome, although a tad difficult to park methinks. And there’s no way I’d hand back a stunning home in Chaparral Valley worth three-quarter of a million.

But, and the Stampede Lottery officials are banking on this, there’s something about the lure of cold, hard cash that people can’t resist. They’ve launched a new lottery on the grounds this year, 50/50 Cowboy Cash, which pays out half the daily pot.

I’ve never won a dime on the Flames’ 50/50 or at any of my child’s soccer games but the prospect of winning upwards of $11,000 might just get me handing over $5 for one ticket or even $10 for five. If you’re really feeling lucky, you can buy 20 tickets for $20 or 100 tickets for $50.

And not to be selfish, buying the 50/50 Cowboy cash also benefits local youth. One half of the proceeds goes to the Calgary Stampede Foundation to support youth programs throughout Alberta, including the Young Canadian School of Performing Arts, Calgary Showband, Stampede School and various youth scholarships.

The lottery was slow to take off on the first two days but, by Sunday, enough people have become aware of it to boost the pot to more than $23,000, so Randy Olaski’s winning share was $11,787. Day 1’s winner, Liane Meunier, took home $1,702.50, while on Day 2, Robert Hrapchak nabbed $6,522.50.

“We’re doubling, almost tripling the amount every day,” said Rick Kuzyk, Stampede Lotteries vice-chairman. “For a new lottery, we’re pleased with the sales and support.”

Yellow 50/50 Cowboy Cash tickets are sold daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at four locations on Stampede Park. One ticket is drawn at 11 p.m. from all tickets sold that day, and the winner gets 50 per cent of the pot. The winner does not have to be in the park to win but, unlike other lotteries, they do have to come to the grounds the following day to collect their winnings.

Winning numbers are posted to the Stampede website as well as on Facebook and Twitter each night, and Kuzyk said people are anxious to know if they hold the lucky ticket.

“As soon as it’s posted online, people are calling to find out the winning number. With a new program we weren’t sure how the public would receive it, but it’s been very good.”

Winners have until 8 p.m. the day after the draw to present their ticket at Stampede Main Reception (1410 Olympic Way S.E.) If the winner has not come forward by then, the amount will carry over to the next day’s draw. For the final draw of the week, the winner has until 12 p.m. on July 16 to claim the prize.

Lottery sales in general are doing well despite the sharp drop in attendance at Stampede this year. Last year’s Centennial event saw record crowds and record lottery sales.

“Right now we’re fighting the weather a little bit, but we’re tracking pretty well, considering,” said Kuzyk. In fact, the Dream Home entrance booth set a record for sales Sunday.

About 1,500 volunteers participate in the Stampede Lotteries campaign each year. In the past 10 years, more than $22 million has been donated to local charities and community projects as a result of the campaign.

This year’s main lotteries drawings will take place July 17. With my Dream Home tickets in hand, and perhaps a 50/50 or two, I’ll be on hand waiting for my name to be called.

]]>http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/lotteries-leave-me-feeling-lucky-at-the-stampede/feed0Stampede ParkmjarviePhotos: Bragg Creek begins clean-up effortshttp://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/photos-bragg-creek-begins-clean-up-efforts
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/photos-bragg-creek-begins-clean-up-efforts#commentsSat, 22 Jun 2013 21:22:17 +0000http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/?p=64719]]>The Calgary Herald’s Michele Jarvie and Darren Francey are in Bragg Creek. Here’s what they are seeing Saturday afternoon as the town works on cleaning up the considerable mess left behind by floodwaters.

A deer darts through flood wreckage in front of Infusion restaurant in Bragg Creek Saturday, June 22. Residents were cleaning up after the swollen Elbow River jumped its banks and swept through the town. (Darren Francey, Calgary Herald)

Perishables are heaped in a pile behind a restaurant in Bragg Creek. (Darren Francey, Calgary Herald)

]]>http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/photos-bragg-creek-begins-clean-up-efforts/feed1BCreek-cleanup4mjarvieA deer darts through flood wreckage in front of Infusion Restaurant in Bragg Creek Saturday, June 22. Residents were cleaning up after the swollen Elbow River jumped its banks and swept through the town. Photo by Darren Francey, Calgary HeraldPerishables are heaped in a pile behind a restaurant in Bragg Creek Saturday, June 22, as residents and merchants clean up after a devastating flood swept through the area. Darren Francey, Calgary HeraldFlooded Infusion restaurant in Bragg Creek Saturday, June 22. Residents were cleaning up after the swollen Elbow River jumped its banks and swept through the town. Photo by Darren Francey, Calgary HeraldHighway 758 southwest of Bragg Creek is washed out by the Elbow River. The Bragg Creek Trading Post, a local landmark, can be seen in the background, severely damaged. Photo by Darren Francey, Calgary HeraldRuined furniture is stacked in a mall parking lot Bragg Creek Saturday, June 22. Residents were cleaning up after the swollen Elbow River jumped its banks and swept through the town. Photo by Darren Francey, Calgary HeraldFlooded Infusion restaurant in Bragg Creek Saturday, June 22. Residents were cleaning up after the swollen Elbow River jumped its banks and swept through the town. Photo by Darren Francey, Calgary HeraldA lone table sits on a wrecked patio outside a flooded Infusion restaurant in Bragg Creek Saturday, June 22. Residents were cleaning up after the swollen Elbow River jumped its banks and swept through the town. Photo by Darren Francey, Calgary HeraldFlood debris is stacked in a mall parking lot Bragg Creek Saturday, June 22. Residents were cleaning up after the swollen Elbow River jumped its banks and swept through the town. Photo by Darren Francey, Calgary HeraldWest of Trading Post near Bragg Creek, which you can see barely hanging on in background. Road washed away. (Michele Jarvie/Calgary Herald)West of Trading Post near Bragg Creek, which you can see barely hanging on in background. Road washed away. (Michele Jarvie/Calgary Herald)Cleanup efforts at the Bragg Creek grocer. (Michele Jarvie/Calgary Herald)Cleanup efforts in Bragg Creek. (Michele Jarvie/Calgary Herald)Cleanup efforts in Bragg Creek. (Michele Jarvie/Calgary Herald)Cleanup efforts in Bragg Creek. (Michele Jarvie/Calgary Herald)Cleanup efforts in Bragg Creek. (Michele Jarvie/Calgary Herald)Cleanup efforts in Bragg Creek. (Michele Jarvie/Calgary Herald)Cleanup efforts in Bragg Creek. (Michele Jarvie/Calgary Herald)Calgary keeps showing its generous spirithttp://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-keeps-showing-its-generous-spirit
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-keeps-showing-its-generous-spirit#commentsWed, 01 May 2013 16:37:58 +0000http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/?p=61778]]>The past week in Calgary has got to be a record of some sort for feel-good news.

Calgarians have had the opportunity to meet renowned researchers who have devoted decades to improving life for chimpanzees and orangutans. We learned about a remarkable man’s quest to walk 300 kilometres to raise money for clean water projects in Africa.

And today we’ll learn more about the generosity of spirit in this city. The Calgary Foundation is announcing the largest gift in Canadian community foundation history. The multimillion-dollar gift comes from the estate of legendary oilman Daryl (Doc) Seaman. We’ll find out more about this incredible donation and where the money will go in a story by Val Fortney later today.

Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall was in Calgary April 22 to update us on her conservation efforts in Gombe Stream National Park in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world. After decades in the field, Goodall continues to amaze and inspire with her tireless campaign to save chimpanzees and their habitat.

On April 24, Spencer West came along to remind us how everyone can make a difference if they choose to. Born with a spinal defect, West had both legs amputated below the pelvis by age five. He refused to be held back and has redefined what is possible for him, but also for all mankind. Along with his two best friends, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last year and raised more than half a million dollars for Free The Children. He is continuing his selfless work by embarking on a walk from Edmonton to Calgary to raise money for more Free The Children water projects in Africa. He kicks off his walk May 6 with special guest singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado joining him.

Last Saturday and Sunday brought another renowned primatologist to town, Dr. Birute Mary Galdikas. She has been working in Borneo for more than 40 years, studying orangutans and trying to stop the destruction of their habitat. Native jungle is being removed at an alarming rate by palm oil plantations. In the process, adult orangutans are being killed and infants are orphaned. They are cared for and returned to the wild by Galdikas’s care centre. A group of 24 Calgarians heard firsthand about her work at an Indonesian-inspired dinner presented by Top Chef Canada candidate Nicole Gomes-Krammerer. Two attendees, including Bob and Shelby Geddes, topped the evening by generously funding medical equipment for the care centre. Between the dinner and Dr. Galdikas’s almost sold-out presentation at the Epcor Centre the following day, more than $125,000 was raised for the Orangutan Care Centre.

These are just a few examples of the amazing work being done on a daily basis, often quietly and behind the scenes. Whether the charitable acts are accomplished by Calgarians or they help fund the work, there’s enormous generosity in this city.

This is quite a week in Calgary for world conservation efforts. On Monday, we heard Jane Goodall talk about efforts to protect chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Two days from now, we will be privileged to meet Birute Galdikas who has lived among and studied orangutans in Borneo for decades.

As deforestation continues around the world and habitat is lost to emerging industry, chimps, orangutans and gorillas are facing real risks to their surivival in the wild. The latest arrival at the Orangutan Care Center in Borneo underscores the urgency of Galdikas’s work.

At her urging, two government tourism officials confiscated a young orangutan being kept illegally as a pet. In this particular area, about 160 kilometres north of Pangkalan Bun, new palm oil plantations are replacing tropical rain forest. The young primate’s mother was likely killed as the forest was cleared, says Greg Epton, co-chair of the Curious Orange? fundraising events in Calgary Saturday and Sunday. The man who had kept the orangutan as a pet bought him from a palm oil worker for the equivalent of $35.

“It is heartbreaking to think that this was the value placed on (his) freedom and his mother’s life,” said Epton.

The Care Centre’s veterinarians estimated that Jackat, as he was later named, was less than one year of age. He was dehydrated, overheated, and had diarrhea. He had wounds on his body and crusts of dark sap, dried blood, and tree gum stuck to his body.

After attention from veterinarians and caregivers, Jackat has started regaining his health, says Epton. He’s eating, sleeps frequently, and is strong enough to walk about on his own, but he is still a little unco-ordinated. He sleeps in a basket with blankets, stuffed animals and another, smaller baby orangutan who arrived on the same day.

Epton said Curious Orange? organizers are more motivated then ever to raise funds for the centre after hearing about Jackat.

“While the tragic events that led up to Jackat’s arrival to the Orangutan Care Center are shattering, they are mitigated by the remarkable work of Dr. Galdikas and her team of caregivers. This team has earned our support by dedicating their lives to fostering and promoting better environmental practices throughout Borneo in an effort to achieve a sustainable relationship with the environment and the remarkable creatures we share this planet with.”

There are still some tickets available for Galdikas’s live presentation Sunday at the Jack Singer Concert Hall which will feature IMAX footage from the Born to be Wild documentary. Patrons can choose to buy tickets for $55 or $40. For details go to www.calgaryorangutans.com

]]>http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/orangutan-orphan-highlights-need-for-protection-in-borneo/feed0mjarvieJackatjackat 2Top Calgary chefs pair food with philanthropyhttp://calgaryherald.com/life/food/top-calgary-chefs-pair-food-with-philanthropy
http://calgaryherald.com/life/food/top-calgary-chefs-pair-food-with-philanthropy#commentsFri, 19 Apr 2013 22:35:25 +0000http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/?p=60878]]>Professional chefs spend their lives designing great menus and matching their dishes. Five of the city’s best have outdone themselves with a perfect pairing of food and philanthropy.

Top chefs from five restaurants have joined forces to create a five-course dinner and beer pairing in support of the Calgary Food Bank.

Putting professional rivalries aside, the five will come together April 23 at Craft Beer Market to create the ultimate dinner with proceeds from the $75 tickets going to the food bank.

Each chef will create and serve a course paired with a beer from Quebec’s Brasserie Dieu du Ciel. Each course will be designed to cut or compliment the beer.

Craft’s executive chef Paul McGreevy handpicked the chefs to participate in the restaurant’s first Celebrity Chefs Brewmaster’s Dinner. Those participating are: Connie DeSousa and John Jackson, co-owners and co-chefs at Charcut Roast House, named one of Canada’s Top 10 Best New Restaurants by enRoute Magazine. DeSousa also appeared on the reality TV show Top Chef Canada 2011, placing third. Rogelio Herrera is owner and chef of Alloy, one of the city’s Best Restaurants of 2011 and 2012. He also co-owns Candela Lounge which opened in 2012. Another alumni of Top Chef Canada, Xavier Lacaze earned awards for his work at Muse and Home. He is now working on a new venture, Briggs Kitchen.

Everyone wins with this event as diners get to sample dishes that will likely not be on any menu anywhere, try some new beer and, in doing so, aid one of the city’s most deserving charities. Last year, the Calgary Food Bank provided over 136,000 Calgarians with food through its emergency hamper program.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 403-514-2337 or click here.

Paul McGreevy of Craft

Xavier Lacaze

Rogelio Herrera of Alloy

John Jackson and Connie DeSousa of Charcut

]]>http://calgaryherald.com/life/food/top-calgary-chefs-pair-food-with-philanthropy/feed0CRAFT Beer MarketmjarvieMISSION>Chef Xavier Lacaze was cut from Top Chef Canada this week.CAL1001-TR2B.jpgCal0711Rouge5